MANILA – The Indian government has relaxed visa rules to attract more Filipino visitors as Philippine Airlines (PAL) launches a long-awaited service between Manila and New Delhi on March 27, 2011.

“I am happy to announce that we will extend our visa-on-arrival facility to nationals of…the Philippines…with effect from January 1, 2011,” said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a recent speech before the 8th India-ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam.

“We invite many more tourists from the ASEAN countries to visit India to see the splendor of its rich cultural heritage,” the Indian leader added. Citizens of three other ASEAN states, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, will also enjoy the same relaxed visa rules.

PAL’s new service to New Delhi will operate six times weekly, with three non-stop flights between the two capitals and three flights routed via Bangkok.

The direct service (PR758) departs Manila every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 9:10 p.m. Arrival at the new Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport is at 1:10 a.m. the following day.

The return flight, PR 759, departs Delhi on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3:00 a.m. and arrives in Manila at 12:00 noon.

The one-stop service via Bangkok (PR752) meanwhile, departs Manila every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:45 p.m. Arrival in the Thai capital is at 9:05 p.m. the same day and in Delhi at 1:10 a.m. the following day.

The return flight, PR753, departs Delhi on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 2:45 a.m., reaching Bangkok at 8:25 a.m. and Manila at 1:50 p.m. the same day.

Modern, wide-body Airbus A330-300 aircraft, which seat 42 in Mabuhay Class (business) and 260 in Fiesta Class (economy), will be deployed on both routes.

The Delhi inaugural will give PAL a presence in South Asia for the first time since 1994 – a fitting milestone for the Philippine flag carrier, just days after it celebrates its 70th founding anniversary on March 15, as Asia’s first airline.

The addition of Delhi expands the PAL international network to 26 points in 15 countries and territories. The airline also flies to 20 points within the Philippines.-Philippine Airlines